Manchester United will not recall Hannibal Mejbri from his loan at Birmingham City on the day of the transfer deadline.
The 20-year-old Mejbri, who made his debut in United’s first team last season Ralph Rannickjoined the Blues on a season-long loan in the summer.
The midfielder has started in 14 of Birmingham’s 28 Championship games, making 23 appearances in total and making his fourth assist this season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers.
While United strengthened themselves in midfield in the summer with the signings of Christian Eriksen and casemiroan injury suffered by the Dane in Saturday’s win over Reading is cause for concern.
The former Tottenham and Brentford midfielder was cut down by a nasty challenge from Andy Carrol in the 3-1 win, leaving Old Trafford on crutches and wearing a protective boot.
Amid a frenetic series of matches where they play 19 games over the next 57 days, United are considering a transfer to another midfield if they get bad news about Eriksen, who underwent a scan on Monday.
Given United’s lack of cash, a new loan or recall of their own are likely to be their only options if forced into action. But Birmingham Live Mejbri’s record will see the season in Birmingham under John Eustace.
United have a handful of young players impressing in the Championship on loan this season, with Amad Diallo having a stellar season at Sunderland.
The 20-year-old has scored seven in his last 13 appearances with the Black Cats and while United need reinforcements in attack, ten Hag said at the start of the month that he would be reluctant to recall the player and potentially hurt his development.
“We are considering everything,” ten Hag said in early January when asked about Diallo’s recall.
As long as it strengthens the team. But at the same time, I have a little reservation about that, because I don’t want to stop the process. He is [making] really good progress there, so I’m happy with that.
“But I also know that they need experience, young players. When we decide [for him] to come back, he has to be a player who can be base eleven, can compete for base eleven [at a] minimal, for many games that come in and have an impact.’
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